As a former senior staff member of the National Security Council and aide to President Jimmy Carter, University of Virginia professor William Quandt helped craft the 1978 Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt.

Quandt is an expert on the Middle East, especially Egypt, Israel and American foreign policy in the Middle East.

He was a consultant to ABC News during the Gulf War, and has been quoted widely in major media. Recent examples:

In a book strikingly relevant to the current turmoil in Egypt, "Between Ballots and Bullets: Algeria's Transition from Authoritarianism," Quandt looks at both the pressures that erode authoritarian regimes and the difficulties of making a transition to democracy in the Arab world.

Many of his books have been published by the Brookings Institution, where he is a non-resident fellow. His books include, "Peace Process: American Diplomacy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict Since 1967"; "Camp David: Peacemaking and Politics;" and "The United States and Egypt: An Essay on Policy for the 1990's," among others.